Getting Ready For the NFL,E Sports & G2E

Labor Day is less than 3 weeks away! So I have to get ready for the best time of the year for me. What time is that? My answer is always when the NFL is about to start and my anticipation of attending the G2E. So I want to prepare you for some of the things you can expect this fall.

I will continue to preview the Thursday Night Games starting on September 9th. My post will appear each week on Bettors Insider. I will share videos that will highlight some of the top fantasy football players every week on Instagram

The Metro Report will return this fall with NFL conversation about the teams in Philly, Washington DC & New York, When the NBA returns on Oct 19, the coverage will expand to the respective teams in the aforementioned cities. This will post every Wednesday.

The Monday Motivation and the Throwback Thursday segments on LinkedIn,Facebook & Twitter will continue. You will reach encouragement and mentorship to start your work week. On Thursdays, expect history concerning gaming & entertainment. If you want to be part of either of these formats as a way to expand your audience, you should check out my website.

GTLHottopics remains on Twitter every Tuesday with a new format. Most of the tweets will be a retweet of the trending sports news item with my commentary along with members of the GTLivechat crew. GTLHottopics and/or GTLivechat will start everyday on Twitter at Sunday thru Thursday at noon. Look for the hashtag #GTLivechat & #GTLHottopics.

The G2E 2021 will start October 4th and end October 7th. I plan to attend and provide coverage of this prestigious event. I will go on record that I will visit and share my opinion about the two newest Las Vegas properties, Circa Las Vegas Casino & Resorts World Las Vegas.

Esports is making it's way back to my website with articles and tournament information. If you or your children are gamers, you will enjoy the bi-weekly commentary.

The things that I am involved in  my role at Rivers Philadelphia Casino would take another blogpost to cover. I can tell you to expect exciting new stuff when it comes to sports betting,slots and table games play.  The team of General Manager Justin Moore, Vice President of Gaming Shawn Harris with the addition of Bennie Mancino (Table Games) & Paul Toennes (Marketing) is going to rock! Go to Rivers Casino Philadelphia for updates.  

                                                                   GET READY!

Monday Motivation: Build A Better You

If you read last week's post, you are ready now to navigate back into the workforce. If you need to catch up with us  read here. In order to prepare effectively you must think about what you bring to the table. Oprah Winfrey is quoted as saying "When you bring excellence to a room. they will find you a seat." I will share two points we can add that will make us appealing to a new opportunity or invaluable to the employer that furlough you.

If you are looking for a new job situation, be prepared to practice "The Power of Nunchi”. This is a book written by Euny Hong. The word "nunchi translates into eye measure and listening skills. This can be incorporated into a job interview. It enables you to make assessments about a business or social situation quickly. Your chances of success increase when you can read a room, make connections, and come across as well informed.

The listening aspect of Nunchi is utilize by hearing what the interviewer wants from you and being able to convey that you can deliver. Be prepared to offer a solution in case you are ask a hypothetical question. Do some research that goes beyond the job posting that got you in the room.

If you are navigating a return to a place or industry of prior employment, bring flexibility back with you. The thought of "I 've been doing this for 5,10 years or longer and I know what I am doing" may have been acceptable in March. Now factor in social distancing, wearing a mask and the other possibilities that await you. Are you ready? A limited capacity is projected initially in hotels, casinos, and entertainment venues. The measure of flexibility may extend to you. Ask yourself how flexible you can be if you could return next week. That would give you time to mentally prepare. An NFL coach can motivate an entire 53-man roster to get ready for a game in 6 days. We only have to motivate ourselves.

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Monday Motivation: Plan B

In last week's Monday Motivation, we covered a blueprint for a to return to work with safety, health, and social distancing policies in place. If you missed it here is the link. The next step for most of us will be how we go from being at home all day to working again. This is not a given or an automatic situation. Most operations are opening at less than 60% of pre COVID levels. This poses the thought that we may need a plan "B". This is if we were employed by an operator that is conservatively reopening. 

The plan "B" must start with an evaluation of your skill set and the value you bring to your team. If your self-evaluation does not grade out high, then you must take steps to improve it. You may have to apply at other companies that are in your field or have a demand for your talent. This is the 1st step of Plan B.

Since we are entering the "New Normal", we must become comfortable with the business aspects of virtual interaction. No one will be likely to interview you in person. So, you must be prepared to log into a link or a Zoom panel that will ask questions of you. This may be foreign to most of us, but we have the luxury of time to master it. 

Have the person that you are in quarantine with do a role play with you. You should dress as if you were going to meet an employer in an office setting. Then download the Zoom App. Once you are satisfied with your responses in the role play, have another person contact you on Zoom and conduct a 10-minute interview. The person you are quarantine with can critique it. Make sure you have a well-lit background and optimum camera angle. In order to make it fun as well as productive, everyone can switch roles.

Then you look at who is hiring and what their needs are. If your resume can convey that you are an asset, then send it to their H/R department. Follow up on your letter or email within 7 business days. If there is a mutual interest you can suggest the virtual interaction. Your innovation will make you stand out from your peers. Nothing over the top but allow your personality to come out during the exchange. Warmth always works!

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Monday Motivation: Expanding Your Network

This week for Monday Motivation, let's look for ways to go back to the working world. We have to be prepared for when this COVID storm ends. So far, we have used this time off to maintain some semblance of our prior routine. I decided to variate today and suggest two things that I would not do under normal circumstances.

The 1st thing I have on my agenda is to update my resume. This is an ideal time to do it! This is a period that we can reflect on our professional accomplishments and fine tune our work history. If you participated in a team related project that was outside of your daily job description then it should be included. Any volunteered activity that shows what intrinsic value you have can be noted as well.

The 2nd thing is to look for opportunities to expand your network. If there a certain executive that you have longed to connect with this is the time. Look thru some of the business cards you have acquired over the past 3-6 months. Reintroduce yourself!  Then glance at some of the professional organizations that appeal to you. They can be commercial association groups or members of the same industry as you. Request to join them! They should include hotels, tourism, sports, gaming and hospitality.

By taking these steps, you will be on your way back to life after COVID. More people will know who you are and what type of skill set you possess. You will be prepared for the multitude of openings available to you. It all starts with #MondayMotivation.

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Gaming and Wagering: Monday Motivation against COVID-19

We are headed in the right direction with our continued practice of social distancing. But if you are 

like me you can't practice social distancing from the refrigerator. So let's work on that as a two part way to promote Monday Motivation. Step one is to start drinking more water. Not more alcohol! The more water you drink the less food you will want to consume. Health authorities suggest the 8 by 8 rule which is 8 glasses of 8 ounces per day. After 9PM limit or shut down all food in take. You will feel better and become more equip to take on the 2nd phase of motivation.

Next step is think about what you want to improve about yourself. Take a moment to think about it..

Now that you have the one area you want to upgrade, go to Amazon or Barnes & Noble  and order the how to book or motivational author's latest work that you have in mind. If funds are limited then find the book on eBay. Commit yourself to read a chapter every day. Whatever you order can not be purely for entertainment or fiction. We got Ozark, reruns of the Wire and Tiger King for that. 

Where we are headed is a better tomorrow. But we won't be prepared to go next level unless we start now. So watch this video and get ready for when tonight to meet tomorrow. It's never too late to follow your dreams!

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Gaming and Wagering: COVID-19 call to action

Whether you are in Philly. Atlantic City or Las Vegas, if you work in gaming and hospitality, we are all experiencing the unimaginable right now. All of the casinos and hotels are closed. The "non essential" businesses which includes everything that is not related to health care and food distribution are shutdown as well. Which brings me to you.

My question is where is your glass?  In a virtual sense because we can't get together unless we Facetime or Zoom.

My next question is where do you see your glass? If you see your glass as half empty because of the pandemic, the words associated with that perception are void, not filled and desolate. If you see your glass as half filled. the words associated with that view are optimistic, prospective and engaged. All of us are binge watching and wishing this would end tomorrow.

My point is that we all got the same glass. Perhaps not the same situation. But it's not where you're at, it's what you going to do about it. So since we all got to be alone together, let's be creative together and figure out the next move. Not the next 2 months. That may be overwhelming. It is for me! But I can manage this day and the gift that was given to me. We can all do that. This was my last post on LinkedIn. It will tell you how to do it. Fill your glass!

Every Monday, I will share some Monday Motivation as long we are alone together. Share this post if you find it beneficial. Have a phenomenal week!

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